Networking- Its not what you know but who you know!

Networking is a great way to meet new people and make new contacts. Here are 7 reasons why you should network

Grant Hackett and Damien Foley- RDA Gold Coast Event October 2011.

Build your network of contacts- Networking allows you to expand your existing contacts, increasing your pool of clients and suppliers. I have met numerous people by networking.

Learn new things- By meeting new people, I have learnt new things about my industry and especially about the needs of my customers.

Build your profile and professional brand- Become more recognised by your peers, clients, suppliers and the community. Build your professional brand (We will discuss your personal or professional brand in another post later). I have been asked to join committee’s, speak at conferences and become involved with local community groups because of networking.

Gain access to powerful and influential people- Through my networks I have had meetings with some very powerful and influential people in government and business. Networking lets you meet people you ordinarily wouldn’t get access to by walking up and starting a conversation.

Make strong relationships upon which you can leverage- I met the secretary of a very influential person. By making a good relationship with her, I was able to gain her trust to give me an introduction to her boss.

Build self esteem and confidence- When I first started I was nervous. But many of the people who network felt exactly the same way when they first started. With practice you will learn to network with the best of them.

Have Fun!- Meeting new people is a whole lot of fun and a great way to make new friends.